Val Sparkes BA(hons) Ceramics Bristol 1978-1981. 
PGCE (art & design) Brighton 1983- 1984
       

I graduated from art college in Bristol in 1981 but it would be another 12 years
before I arrived at Danestream Farm.  I spent much of 1982 & 83 enjoying life
as an au pair on the Greek island of Corfu before returning to undertake a post-
graduate teacher training course in Brighton. 

I completed the course in summer '84, but decided that the teaching profession   wasn't for me, and returned home to the New Forest.  Here, I spent the next 9 years gaining experience as a production thrower at a pottery in the picturesque village of Beaulieu and as a ceramics technician at nearby Brockenhurst College. 

In the Spring of 1993, I took on the former dairy at Danestream Farm complete with a scruffy pine dresser and some renegade chickens.  (The dresser would later prove useful, but the chickens definitely had to go!)  Renovations and alterations were soon underway and by mid May, I had a good sized, fully functional workshop, with a smaller retail area to the front.  The only thing I didn't have was stock!  'Panic' soon gave way to a frenetic period of pot making which continued for the next month or so, and by late June, the Pottery was ready to welcome it's first customers.

 

The Pottery at Danestream  Farm is ideally situated
next to a popular farm shop on the edge of the New
Forest, just a couple of miles from the sea.  Many of my
customers are visitors to this beautiful region, and as a
result, my pots have found their way into homes as far
away as Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Dubai, USA
& Canada as well as many parts of the UK and Europe.

In addition to the visitors, some of whom return year after
year, I'm lucky enough to have acquired a loyal customer 
base locally.  I have come to know many of these people
well over the years, and, whether they come in to make a
purchase, or just to say 'hello', it's always good to see them!                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                    
                                                            
   

About My Work       Almost all of my work is created       on the potter's wheel, giving a       unique quality to each piece.

                                                   

                                                                                                                                                        

 

 

 

I use a white earthenware clay, which is fired once and then dipped in an opaque
off - white glaze.  When this has dried, the pots are decorated using oxides and
prepared colours, a traditional technique known as 'majolica'.
Finally, they are fired again to a temperature of 1140^oC.

Recently, I have started to use a transparent glaze as well, which is very smooth
and silky and gives scope either for decoration under the glaze, or, as with the
creamware, is lovely just left 'bare'.

The influences on my work are many and varied, historic and contemporary,
but rooted in the traditions of the 'country potter'.  I aim to make simple,
functional ware reflecting my love of the countryside and sea.